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    Penny's Drive In

    4.2 (127 reviews)
    InexpensiveHawaiian
    Closed 5:00 am - 2:00 pm

    Penny's Drive In Photos

    Business Info

    PENNY'S DRIVE IN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Fried Chicken wings plate
    Gabriel P.

    Pickup a fried chicken wings plate today. It came with 6 pieces of chicken wings mac salad and rice. It was nice and crisp. How ever the wings was overwhelmed with salt. The mac salad was on the sweet side. My wife ordered the Portuguese sausage breakfast. Her comment was breakfast is breakfast. The service was friendly and efficient. They do have limited seating. Four high counter stools, and two tables. Enjoy

    Chicken wings plate
    Deborah P.

    After my doctor's appointment my husbandxwanted breakfast again at the place on sand island access road. Well we went there but they close on Thursday so the next place was Penny's. I walked in and I chose breakfast 2 eggs with Portuguese sausage. My husband chose fried chicken. The service was friendly and the pick up was at the other side of the counter. After you order then you go to the other side to pick up. Came home and we ate my breakfast was ok breakfast is breakfast the Portuguese sausage was 5 pieces and the eggs were cooked good over easy yolk was nice and running. My husband chicken he said was salty. The pickle onions was vinegary. It turned out to be chicken wings not different kind of pieces of chicken. I guess now to try their pies looks homemade in their refrigerator section. Other than that said the food was OK

    Regular Hamburger steak plate , delicious! Third best on Oahu , so far!
    Gerald P.

    Went by their good reviews & was close to Sand Island Road,easy to find, parking limited in areas fronting drive in. Once inside, nice menu items,breakfast starting @ 5am and pau @ 10am & running thru lunch, closes @ 1:30 pm. Looking for the best Hamburger steak plate in Hawaii , went with their reviews & ordered that with a small salt less fries. You can dine in, they have about seating for about 12 no a/c , so was pretty warm. I suggest going to the near by beach park. They serve Coke products. Hamburger steak regular plate was $ 14.50 Side of chopped onions in a small ramekin, White rice & Mac salad. The steak & gravy was good , but I know of 2 other Oahu eatery's that do it better.Fries were hot & excellent& both portions were value good. The gal, ( aunty) taking & serving our food was super service oriented & friendly. Will return if in the area. Closed on the weekends! Enjoy! Penny's.

    Small plate of sweet & sour pork ribs with a large fountain coke drink.
    Randy M.

    The sweet & sour spare ribs and a large Coke. Is today's choice for lunch. Time to put it to test and rate it

    ...huh?
    Craig S.

    ...does that sign even make any sense? I know they're closed on the weekend but when they come back, will Monday and Tuesday cease to exist anymore? Anyway, their roast beef plate is worth the wait! Cooked, proportioned and seasoned PERFECTLY (I often dream about the way the meat and gravy taste together)!!!

    Jason M.

    First time typing here, wife and mother in law always come for the hamburger curry! I got the roast pork with brown gravy and shoyu chicken! Both was very tender and the brown gravy was very tasty! Service was fast and friendly and I'll be back!

    Lois I.

    Went to Penny's Drive In and ordered the mini roast pork with pickled onions ($.25). I am coming out of a bad case of bronchitis, but this lunch hit the spot. It tasted very good considering my taste buds are not all working. The pickled onions was what I needed. We ordered ahead...and the food was ready on time for pick up. No real ambience...but cute little diner....nice selection on the menu.

    Lily D.

    cute hole in the wall in sand island. i like how they are pretty festive with their decorations for Halloween. there is a few parking stalls out front - and i think 2 of them was dedicated to just pennys. they take cash or card with a small fee. ordering is simple through the first window at the entrance. there is some kind of PA system so they can hear you through the glass. all of the worders were really friendly. pickup is at the next window at towards the exit, but they don't want you to block the area so just move aside. There is a few bar tables and sit down tables in this back corner if you decide to eat there. I ordered the hamburger deluxe for 5.50, beef stew bowl no rice for $9, and then a saimin $5. the hamburger was the best. beef stew could have been better if the meat was softer, and the saimin noodles was soggy - maybe because it was already in the soup and not separated. the saimin bowl was also leaking from the top lid. otherwise, the food is ok, but not something i would go out of my way for again.

    Regular breakfast corn beef hash fried rice over easy eggs
    Leland N.

    This place is pretty small but since we went during Halloween it was very festive with all the Halloween decorations. The lady that help us was nice and very easy to talk to they do have a PA type of system for when you order and for pick up so you can hear them very clearly. So on to the food I had the regular breakfast with corn beef hash with fried rice and over easy eggs and my friend had their roast pork with Mac salad and pickled onions with white rice. We both enjoyed our plates for me it was just the right amount of food I wasn't too full or still hungry.

    The Spread (Part 1)...
    T S.

    We actually haven't been here in a long time. Really ono food here at Penny's Drive In. So good that we went twice in a week. The plates are packed, burgers are homemade and huge and the prices are awesome. Oh don't forget about the pickled onions and dessert.

    Mahi n fries

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    4 months ago

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    1 month ago

    Best breakfast take out!!! Love their fried rice and corned beef hash!!! The ladies they are always so nice and friendly!!!

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    6 months ago

    Best local food in town! Especially take-out plates and the best hamburger sandwiches I ever had!

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    2 years ago

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    5 months ago

    pennys is mayjah. The food is super Ono and the service is very fast. The prices are actually affordable unlike Everywhere else in Hawai'i

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    2 years ago

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    10 months ago

    Yummy food. I like the hash. Go early, fried rice sells out fast. They close early anyways. Nice aunties...another diamond in the rough.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Really liked the corn beef sandwiches and tuna sandwiches. Also there blueberries pie . Price is reasonable. All in. Ready to go pack.

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    1 year ago

    Food is very tasty plentiful, service is great very friendly, and ambiance is just awesome clean roomy .

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    2 years ago

    Great roast pork!!! The meat is soft and the gravy is delicious. It does sell out so get there by 1:00.

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Small Place inside with little seating area mostly to go orders during lunch time. The burger was huge really fat and juicy.

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    2 years ago

    Tried their beef curry, Saimin and roast beef plates and it was so ono. Da best. I wish they were open for dinner. I'd be there.

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    Page 1 of 4

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    Helena's Hawaiian Food

    Helena's Hawaiian Food

    4.4
    (4.5k reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    Born and raised Oahu and never stepped foot into Helena's, WHAT?!! They are serious about serving…read moreono tasting, authentic Hawaiian food. Brought BFF here for a celebration of her new job position and left with da Hawaiian paralysis AKA: wanted to get home and sleep it off it was just that GOOD! God blessed our entire time together, with a parking space, which is challenging during lunch hours. Had a hard time deciding the best way to get all my cravings fulfilled, so our helpful & friendly server recommended Menu C and add the chicken long rice ala carte, when I told her I was craving the pipikaula short ribs and kalua pig AND wanted chicken long rice. BFF ordered a laulau and the beef stew bowl and wanted rice, so I ordered Menu C with rice instead of poi. It came with 2 big ass balls of hot, sticky rice. Food came out pretty quickly, and she let me taste the laulau...mouthgasmic smoky flavor, soft pork, ah, ah, AAAHH...! Had to savor that bite with eyes closed to remember da feeling for when I need to go to my "happy place." I didn't know where to start on my lunch, everything was laid out in their own small plates and bowls. Had to cut into the ribs, and Lord have mercy, they were the perfect mix of salt, fat and just chewy enough meat! Kalua pig was smoky, savory, perfectly salted and just so good! Chicken long rice had bouncy, springy glass type noodles, coated in chickeny broth and chunks of chicken meat topped with a sprinkling of green onion, completely satisfactory! Lomi salmon tasted perfect as well, filling my mouth with that fresh cut tomato and bits of salted salmon we all love! Every table gets Hawaiian salt, onion slices and haupia coconut pudding desserts which only adds to the flavors you experience all mixing together. It was what everyone writes about, just about the best Hawaiian food made fresh and tasty! We got to pack up our leftovers, and I was secretly clapping in my head, knowing what my dinner would be! Because I requested a bag for the leftovers, my bill was recalculated as they add a small bag fee. By this time the restaurant was emptying out, so if you don't mind a later lunch, about 2:00 PM there lots of parking and practically no waiting for a table. By dinner time I was more than happy to relive my lunchtime experience, so glad we decided to celebrate my BFF at Helena's!

    I've been to plenty of local spots, and Helena's is one of those places that lives up to its…read morereputation. After hearing so many people say it's a must-try, I finally made the trip--and now I get it. We ordered the pork lau lau, fried butterfish, luau squid its like Daing filipino dish, short ribs, and macaroni salad. Every dish looks basic not something that needed color to make it look good. The pork lau lau was incredibly tender, the fried butterfish had a light, crispy coating without being greasy, and the luau squid was rich, creamy, coconut and The short ribs were packed with flavor and practically almost off the bone. Even the macaroni salad was the kind you keep going back for. The only thing I probably wouldn't order again is the lomi salmon. It wasn't bad--it just wasn't my favorite compared to everything else on the table. If you're visiting Oahu and only have time for a few local food spots, make Helena's one of them. It's the kind of place that reminds you why simple, traditional food never goes out of style. I'd honestly stop here one more time before heading to the airport if I had the chance. That's probably the best compliment I can give it. Fyi food portion are on the smaller side but trust me they will hit the spot.

    Photos
    New larger inside dining area
    New larger inside dining area
    Menu B: Kalua Pig And Pipikaula Short Ribs
    Menu B: Kalua Pig And Pipikaula Short Ribs
    Cashier counter

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    Cashier counter
    Highway Inn Kaka'ako

    Highway Inn Kaka'ako

    4.1
    (2k reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$

    I just finished a Yelp event nearby (she wasnt able to go) and we are starving, so we finally…read moredecided to check this place off our bookmark. Highway Inn is known for traditional Hawaiian food, but we ended up trying some of the local-style twists. The kalua pig quesadilla was really good, and the tacos were solid too. The surprise for me was the chicken from the kids menu. I ordered it anyway, and honestly, no regrets. It was juicy, flavorful, and better than a lot of regular chicken plates I've had. The Kaka'ako location is clean and modern, service was quick, and it was exactly what we needed after a long event. We would definitely come back to try more. The on-site music artist was good.

    The internet told me if I wanted authentic Hawaiian food, this was the place to go, so of course I…read morehad to try it. Since it was our last meal before leaving Hawaii and there were still a few Hawaiian dishes I hadn't gotten around to trying, this felt like the perfect spot. What I really liked is that they have a sampler plate with a bunch of classic Hawaiian dishes, and the menu actually breaks down what everything is. Clearly this is something people come here for, because it makes trying a little bit of everything way less intimidating. I split the sampler with someone, and overall I was pleasantly surprised. Some of the items didn't look the most appetizing at first glance -- one especially because of the color -- but flavor-wise, everything was actually really good. One of the dishes reminded me of a comforting chicken soup situation, the clear noodles were good, some of the other items were more savory, and it all balanced together well. The lomi salmon was one of my favorites -- kind of like a light, fresh tomato salsa or pico de gallo situation that paired really well with the pork and everything else on the plate. I didn't finish it all because I was already full, but I genuinely liked the variety and thought the flavors were rich and comforting. So if you're curious about Hawaiian food but don't know where to start, this sampler is a great move. Don't let the appearance of some of the dishes scare you off. Service was quick and everyone was nice. At first I kind of wished someone had walked us through the food a little more, but honestly, the menu already does that for you pretty clearly. Overall, I'm glad we came. It was a fun way to try the Hawaiian dishes we hadn't gotten to yet, and I'd come back to try more.

    Photos
    Highway Inn Kaka'ako
    KALUA PIG NACHOS,FRIED RICE & SOUR CREAM
    KALUA PIG NACHOS,FRIED RICE & SOUR CREAM
    Fried Rice

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    Fried Rice
    Side Street Inn

    Side Street Inn

    4.1
    (2.5k reviews)
    5.8 mi
    $$

    OMG! This was a dining experience! So, the restaurant was closing so my friend said we should eat…read morethere! I didn't know that the servings were group sized!! I found so many things that looked great on the menu, to include fried gizzards, boneless Kal Bi ribs, fully loaded fried rice, Mac salad and other stuff I can't recall! So the TWO of us ordered way too much! We tried to eat as much as we could and ended up taking the rest home! Everything we ordered was delicious, so we knew we were going to eat good leftovers! The restaurant was a great place to go with a group to eat and watch sports! Our Waitress (I have to remember to get names) was a track star, she was running to and from several tables of groups to deliver food! I will go again if they reopen!

    If you're visiting Hawaii with a big group, 100% recommend taking them here…read more We initially were a party of 16, and showed up without a reservation at 6pm on a Saturday. The staff was super nice about it and was able to accommodate us, with only a small request that we be out by 8pm since there was another big party with a reservation coming in. Absolutely reasonable. They sat us right away at three large tables, which gave us plenty of space for food and didn't force us to sit super close together. Menus, waters, plates, napkins, and forks were all brought out immediately, and our waiter was quick to take our order. We started with the prix fixe menu for 8-10 guests and were going to add other items à la carte, but a handful of our group accidentally went to the other Side Street location (make sure your group is all on the same page), so what we ordered ended up being more than enough. We left stuffed and with 5 boxes of food still. Edamame was nice and steamy, and large enough to easily pop the beans out with your mouth. Wish there was a bit more salt though. The farmer's salad had everything going on from citrusy to salty to crispy. Avocado had a little bit of oxidation but the capers, dressing and potato curls provided plenty of reasons to overlook it. The fried rice came in a hefty portion, with sizable pieces of bacon and sausage. The chicken I didn't realize was boneless based on the shape of the deep fry, but it was nice to freely bite into it without worrying about hitting anything with my teeth. Probably a bit too much on fried bits but still good. Pork chops had a better meat to crisp ratio in my opinion, as well as juiciness. They even came with ketchup on the side, which I love as a pairing but don't see much of at restaurants. My favorite meat item was definitely the sizzling boneless kalbi. The presentation on the sizzling plate with a side of kimchi was spectacular, and the meat was full of flavor. We also ordered yakisoba, which wasn't part of the prix fixe. Tasted good but nothing past standard expectations. We let the waiter know we had a 30th birthday at the table, and they brought a couple scoops of vanilla ice cream with a candle, and did a decent job getting the whole room to participate in the singing. It could also be the type of crowd this place attracts, since it seemed that everyone was so friendly and approachable. Thanks to the quick and consistent service, we were out in a little over an hour with no complaints.

    Photos
    Our Chef Colin's Classics Menu feeds 3-4 guests for $105.00!
    Our Chef Colin's Classics Menu feeds 3-4 guests for $105.00!
    Oodles of Noodles! Try our Yakisoba! You can also add Kim Chee for extra flavor.
    Oodles of Noodles! Try our Yakisoba! You can also add Kim Chee for extra flavor.
    Popcorn Chicken & French Fries

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    Popcorn Chicken & French Fries
    Musubi Cafe Iyasume

    Musubi Cafe Iyasume

    4.5
    (5.4k reviews)
    5.4 mi
    $

    If you think 5,400 reviews are lying, let this one be the reason you make sure to visit this local…read morebusiness when you're in Honolulu. It was love at first bite for me with musubi and onigiri, so when I saw a spot dedicated to this deliciousness you better believe I made a point to go there! I ran even faster when StaciLei, Yelp Hawaii's amazing Community Manager, told me it's a must and gave me her list of greatest hits and must not miss items as a guide! Now I've had a lot of these in my life, and I must say, Iyasume are easily the best. See musubi and onigiri have humble origins as a quickly made homespun snack or on the go lunch, and when you spot them in the convenience environment they're often a giant ball of rice with a tinge of protein or seasoning for flavor. At Iyasume, these are culinary adventures, stacked with ingredients, all in handheld form, and the variety they offer is IMPRESSIVE! Of course musubi starts with the classic, SPAM. I had to order the kimchi + spam, shiso + spam, and unagi + tamago + spam, all of which were awesome (even the next day!). Onigiri here are actually layered with ingredients, so you get them in every bite, unlike the convenience store versions! They have a HUGE menu, and I went with spicy mentaiko and salmon, spicy mentaiko and ikura, ikura and salmon, and tuna mayo curry, all of which were great. I LOVE that they make these to order. You can see the line in the back hard at work, and they're very fast. You're sure to encounter a line when you arrive, but don't be scared, it moves quickly. I only had to wait about 5 minutes for mine to come up! Well worth it. Reasonably priced. Very filling. A taste of Hawaii and Japan in one place that'll have everyone smiling!

    Friend recommended this spot and I'm grateful she did. There were so many fresh and interesting…read moremusubis to choose from. I bought kimchi spam, eel spam, inari spam, and a furikake rice ball. Didn't really interact with staff as they didn't offer to help while I viewed the items and I selected my items fairly quickly. I found purchasing four musubis very affortable. Finding parking was tough and expensive in the area. Not the restaurant's fault and probably drivers are not the bulk of their business.

    Photos
    Inside the shop
    Inside the shop
    Teriyaki Spam & Rice with Hawaiian drink
    Teriyaki Spam & Rice with Hawaiian drink
    Black pepper spam musubi and inari-egg spam musubi

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    Black pepper spam musubi and inari-egg spam musubi
    Da Ono Hawaiian Foods

    Da Ono Hawaiian Foods

    3.9
    (294 reviews)
    5.7 mi
    $$

    3.5 stars We wanted…read moreto try authentic Hawaiian food and came across this spot. The owner was very friendly and took the time to recommend dishes for us, including the laulau and lechon kawali. We also ordered the BBQ short ribs. Overall, it was a good experience trying Hawaiian food, but it's just not really our type of cuisine. The laulau was quite dry, and the preparation felt more like meat that had been boiled or cooked in liquid, which isn't something I usually enjoy. The lechon kawali had a crispy pork belly texture, topped with something similar to a salsa, but it didn't suit our taste either. Unfortunately, the cabbage served with it also had some black spots, which was off-putting. The BBQ short ribs were the highlight of the meal and the dish we enjoyed the most. We appreciate the experience and the hospitality, but the flavors just didn't quite match our personal preferences.

    1. The hours posted on Yelp was incorrect. They open from 12:00 pm…read more A group of us ordered food the night before for pickup at 12:30pm, on Thursday. Then someone wanted to change from rice to poi. I tried many times and no one answered. Their voice mailbox was full. We e ended going there to make the change. He gentleman looked like he was working be himself. We bads to wait almost a half hour for him to finish the order. 2. Price - the prices were higher than expected. All the plates were $26.00 and up. 3. Food - The poi was very tasty and fresh, although a bit watery. The lau lau had a lot of lean pork filling, not a lot of leaves. The long rice didn't have much chicken and was a bit watery too. We enjoyed the sweet potato. There was also lomi salmon, haupia onion and chili pepper water. 4. As mentioned before there isn't much parking. The restaurant wasn't busy when we got there. Overall the food and service was OK. The price was a bit high.

    Photos
    Menu
    Menu
    Short Ribs Plate
    Short Ribs Plate
    Menu

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    Menu

    Penny's Drive In - hawaiian - Updated July 2026

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